Researchers Use Online Media as Olive Branch

Researchers Use Online Media as Olive Branch

Researchers at CERN made history this week by streaming images of two beams of protons each at 3.5 trillion electron-volt energies colliding in underground particle accelerator.

The live webcast, was online from 7.30 am and 5 pm on Wednesday and has been heralded by some as the beginning of a "new era in science".

The action was also reported in real time over a twitter feed, prompting much celebration following confirmation of the first set of collisions.

Many have complimented Cern for their decision to broadcast the event in this way as it has been seen as a successful way of drumming up much needed support for the LHC, which has often been misrepresented in the media.

However Tuesday's experiments are only the very beginning for researchers at Cern and will lead to a 12 - 18 month investigation of the immediate results.

Guido Tonelli from CERN said, "Major discoveries will happen only when we are able to collect billions of events and identify among them the very rare events that could present a new state of matter or new particles."

The web streaming and Twitter feed, are certainly an olive branch from researchers to the public who are using new technology to reignite a general interest in science.